How to Recognize
Hazards

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Looking Ahead

One of the most important skills to learn is how to look for hazards — so you can avoid trouble spots and react to changes in traffic situations. Here's how to do it:

• Make sure you can see ahead before starting out
• Make sure you can see ahead at all times while driving
• Keep your eyes moving left and right
• Watch for sudden stops in traffic — especially when nearing intersections
• Watch for cars coming from the left or right — especially at intersections

Looking for hazards is a skill that improves with practice. Ask your parents to help you spot hazards the next time.

Looking Behind

Looking behind you is something that new drivers often forget to do. Here are three good things to practice:

1. Turn your head to the right quickly to check your blind spot in these situations before pulling into traffic before changing lanes
2. Turn your head to look all the way behind and around your car before backing up
3. Check the rearview mirror regularly – and especially in the following situations:
   • After seeing a sudden change ahead
   • Before and after braking
   • When stopped in traffic
   • Before and after making turns
   • Before and after changing lanes